Topical Encyclopedia A "holyday" in the biblical context refers to a day set apart for religious observance and worship, often marked by rest from regular work and dedicated to the remembrance of God's acts and commands. The concept of holydays is deeply rooted in the traditions and commandments given to the Israelites in the Old Testament and carries forward into the New Testament with a transformed understanding through Christ.Old Testament Holydays In the Old Testament, God instituted several holydays for the Israelites, which are detailed primarily in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These days were not only times of rest but also of communal worship, sacrifice, and celebration. Key holydays include: 1. Sabbath: The weekly day of rest on the seventh day, as commanded in Exodus 20:8-11. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day to cease from labor and remember God's creation and deliverance. 2. Passover (Pesach): Celebrated on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan), Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. It is a time of remembering God's mighty acts and His protection over the firstborn of Israel (Exodus 12:14-28). 3. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Following Passover, this seven-day feast involves eating unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:15-20). 4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Occurring 50 days after the Sabbath of Passover week, this feast celebrates the firstfruits of the wheat harvest and later became associated with the giving of the Law at Sinai (Leviticus 23:15-21). 5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Marking the beginning of the civil year, this day is a time of rest and blowing of trumpets, calling the people to prepare for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:23-25). 6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, where the high priest makes atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:29-34). 7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A week-long festival celebrating the harvest and commemorating the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, living in temporary shelters (Leviticus 23:33-43). New Testament Perspective In the New Testament, the concept of holydays is transformed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early church, while initially observing Jewish festivals, began to develop its own distinct practices. The Apostle Paul addresses the observance of holydays in his letters, emphasizing the freedom believers have in Christ. In Colossians 2:16-17 , Paul writes, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week led to the practice of gathering on Sundays, known as the Lord's Day, to celebrate the new creation inaugurated by Christ's victory over death (Acts 20:7, Revelation 1:10). Christian Holydays As Christianity spread, the church established its own calendar of holydays, many of which commemorate key events in the life of Jesus and the early church. These include: 1. Easter: Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Easter is the most significant holyday in the Christian calendar, symbolizing the victory over sin and death. 2. Christmas: Observing the birth of Jesus, Christmas is a time of joy and reflection on the incarnation of God in Christ. 3. Pentecost: Commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Pentecost marks the birth of the church and the beginning of its mission to the world. These holydays, while not commanded in Scripture, serve as opportunities for Christians to remember and celebrate the foundational truths of their faith. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A religious festival.2. (n.) A secular festival; a holiday. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia HOLYDAYho'-li-da: This word occurs twice in the King James Version, namely, Psalm 42:4, "a multitude that kept (the Revised Version (British and American) "keeping") holyday," and Colossians 2:16. In the latter case it is a rendering of the Greek word heorte, the ordinary term for a religious festival. the Revised Version (British and American) translates "feast day." In the former instance "keeping holyday" renders choghegh. The verb means to "make a pilgrimage," or "keep a religious festival." Occasionally the idea of merrymaking prevails, as in 1 Samuel 30:16 -"eating and drinking," and enjoying themselves merrily. The Psalmist (who was perhaps an exiled priest) remembers with poignant regret how he used to lead religious processions on festival occasions. Greek 1859. heorte -- a feast, a festival ... feast, holy day. Of uncertain affinity; a festival -- feast, holyday. (eorte) -- 11 Occurrences. (eorten) -- 9 Occurrences. (eortes) -- 5 Occurrences. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1859.htm - 6k Library Appendix ii. The Order of the Communion The Nineteenth Chapter: the Practices of a Good Religious Introductory Notice to Lactantius. But the Majority of those who are Accounted Believers are not of ... The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ... Heralds of the Morning Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ... Book Twelve the Mode of Creation and the Truth of Scripture. ... Thesaurus Holyday (2 Occurrences)...HOLYDAY. ... the Revised Version (British and American) translates "feast day." In the former instance "keeping holyday" renders choghegh. ... /h/holyday.htm - 8k Holy-day (2 Occurrences) Throng (21 Occurrences) Holy-begotten (1 Occurrence) Worship (332 Occurrences) Meat (387 Occurrences) Holiday (5 Occurrences) Resources Holyday: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Holyday (2 Occurrences)Colossians 2:16 Psalms 42:4 Subtopics Related Terms |
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